Do I need an Asbestos Survey?

If you are a commercial building owner, an employer or you are responsible for managing construction, maintenance or repair works on a building, you have a legal duty to manage any asbestos in it, so as to protect people from the exposure to asbestos fibres (under Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012).

The key phase in the management of asbestos is to identify the location, type, condition and extent of any Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs). This is accomplished by carrying out an asbestos survey.  If your property was built after the year 2000, it is safe to presume that no asbestos is present, therefore an asbestos survey is not required (NB/ privately owned domestic properties are exempt).

The type of asbestos survey conducted will be dependent upon the nature and the activities being carried out, or the proposed activities within your premises. There are two types of survey: –

  • An Asbestos Management Survey
  • A Pre Demolition/Refurbishment Survey

Asbestos Management Survey

The purpose of an Asbestos Management Survey is to locate, as far as reasonable practicable the presence and extent of any suspected asbestos containing materials (ACM’s) in the building which could be damaged or disturbed during normal occupancy, including foreseeable maintenance and to assess their condition.  For all buildings built before 2000, an Asbestos Management Survey is always required.

Pre Refurbishment/Demolition Asbestos Survey

The purpose of the Pre-refurbishment or Demolition Survey is to locate and describe, as far as reasonably practicable all Asbestos Containing Materials in the area where refurbishment work will take place or in the whole building if demolition is planned.  This survey is intrusive and involves disturbing the fabric of the building.

All Asbestos Surveys should be carried out in accordance with HSG264 (Asbestos: The Survey Guide). An Asbestos Surveyor carrying out survey work must be experienced and possess, as a minimum, a P402 certificate or equivalent.

Asbestos Survey Report

An Asbestos Survey Report should be prepared following each survey. The report will assist the building owner/occupier to manage asbestos containing materials (ACM’s) in their premises. Where asbestos containing materials are identified, then the report should include recommended remedial actions to be undertaken to mitigate any risks to those occupying the premises.

Once you have your Asbestos Survey Report, you must communicate it and make this available to employees, maintenance workers or appointed contractors so that they are aware of the presence of Asbestos Containing Materials, so that appropriate measures can be taken to prevent disturbing Asbestos Containing Materials.

Posted by: Tom Price Marpal’s Head of Asbestos Management.

For further information on Asbestos Surveys, please contact Tom Price by phone (01332 668877) or email ([email protected]).

Asbestos Management Services